From the US green card to the UK’s “indefinite leave to remain,” permanent residency in a country that’s not your own can be a prickly issue. Japan is now getting choosier about who gets to stay for good.
Under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, the country has tightened various rules around immigration, including higher renewal fees for visas and stricter enforcement of overstayers. The latest proposal is to raise the bar on permanent residency, adding requirements for minimum salary and Japanese language ability.